After Reggie Bush left USC and was preparing for the NFL draft, he said something in an interview once that really stuck with me. He was relating to the interviewer how he had had a conversation with a former NFL Hall of Fame running back (I don't remember who the hall of famer was anymore) and the retired player told Reggie he knew Reggie was going to be a good player because he "never looked at the defender trying to tackle him, he was always looking past him for the next defender to make miss". The retired runner said that all great running backs looked for the next defender because they instinctively knew they could make the first guy miss without putting too much thought into it. There's a lot of truth there, and whenever I see a running back with that trait I make a mental note to keep an eye out for them.

Every time Juice breaks a tackle, it seems like he's doing it while yawning. This stiff arm was pretty brutal, but he just casually puts Kendall to bed without even the courtesy of eye contact. Williams is so confident that he's not being brought down by the first guy to arrive that he can start assessing the next threat and the next hole immediately, which is probably why he hits the holes so boldly.

Just look at where his eyes are pointed on this run. By my count, Juice breaks five or six tackles on this run yet he maintains his focus and keeps his eyes on the goal. Just like when your driving a car down the interstate, you don't want to be looking at the yellow lines flying past you. You want to have your eyes on the horizon and your hands will naturally take you to where your looking.

A running back who has the confidence to look towards the end zone, instead of at the nearest opponents jersey, will find himself ending his runs there more often.

The other thing I look for is anticipating holes. I remember being really impressed with Darren Evan's during his infamous UMD game where ESPN had a camera hanging above the backfield and showed Evans hitting holes that were not there...at least by the time he had to decided it was there. He saw the leverage blockers had and the momentum of defenders and hit voids that didn't open until he got there. It was an epiphany for me, that's not a normal thing to be able to do. We haven't had a back do that in the last few years.

Finally a back that looks like the backs of old. Nothing against Coleman, Edmunds or the rest of the crew but Williams just look like the dominant backs we have had in the past. Excited to see him play. I know it's early but I don't see how he can't be up in the rotation yet for the fall.

I know this was mentioned above, but the most telling fact from this run: the way he finishes. He looks for contact, and instead of receiving a defenders hit, he delivers the punishment. A sign of a great back is not so much how he starts a run, but rather how he finishes. Falling forward, legs churning, lowering the shoulder...BOOM. Get juicey with it, Marshawn. VT football is back.

If it ain't orange, it better be maroon...and if it ain't maroon, it better be soon!

I hate anOSU so much, then they added urban and oh damn my hatred for them is at an all time high. That "the" just infuriates me. I want to beat anOSU to a bloody pulp. I hope juice runs the whole defense over and we dadi and Bane Ekanem breaks braxton miller in half (no real injury of course)

The biggest thing that I see from that run other than the Juiciest stiff arm ever, is his vision. He tried to find a crease inside, then bam jumpcut(which he is nasty at see highlights above) and he turns on the burners looking for contact and runs through it. Also the no glove look is so juicy, makes it that much more beast mode.

Totally agree, that's not something you can really teach. It's more of an instinct and knowing where the space is. He reminds me of Andre Williams a lot and me likey.. has the same body build, downhill runner looking to punish.

Actually the last one I remember getting prominent video coverage from his spring game was Tyrod Taylor. Brought the entire crowd to its feet with an eye popping run to the goal line. Juked out several defenders, if I remember it right.

I just have this feeling that Marshawn is going to become "the guy." I like what Trey did last year and I think he has alot of talent...but Juice might be special. I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't the #1 back by week 3 or 4.

In my ideal world (without seeing Shai play yet and assuming he'll redshirt) would be for marshawn to move in as the feature back with Trey being the third down back. Trey is good (from what i remember) as a pass blocker, and is a dynamic receiver out of the backfield. I think that combo, spelled with j.c. from time to time, has the potential to be dangerous later into next season.

If Trey is 100%, he'll definitely be the starter. Trey has too many skills to be forgotten. Also, it's best to have your bruiser play as the 2nd back. Trey will break their ankles; Marshawn will break their will (along with every bone in their body).

Yeah, I was thinking this as well where Marshawn will come in later in the game and finish what Trey and JC started (but not in mop up duty, just a fresh back that will punish defenses later in the game.)

The one constant we've had in all our years where we've contended and gotten ourselves into the national picture... we've had an absolute bruiser of a feature back.

Marshawn, if he can stay healthy, could very well be by far and away the most talented of any feature back we've had here. From what we are seeing, he has the speed and quickness of a Ryan Williams but can beastmode someone like a Darren Evans. We get our OL to open ANY kind of holes for this guy, and he is going to be something special here at VT. Whats even more exciting is knowing that not only do we have a guy like this at RB for the next 4 years, but we also have 3 4* QBs in the fold, plus more true WR talent than we've had in years, not to mention we're trying to convert Bucky to TE, and if that works out, it'll be a matchup nightmare for defenses.

VT football is poised to return to the national scene badder than ever with a chip on its shoulder in the next couple years. Hope y'all are ready for the ride.

"Some days you’re a horse and some days you’re a horse’s ass. I’ve been a horse’s ass for a little while." - Roy Halladay

I LOVE this post but I would wait until we see the guy in a game....Ryan and David were exceptional....100% exceptional athletes. There is no other word but ELITE to describe their talent and results on the field. That is more of a nod of respect to Ryan and David than it is a knock to Marshawn. The kid is a monster and he's probably going to be splitting carries relatively early in the season.

I am all fired up about our running game because I think Trey has something special to bring to the table too. JC looking better all the time as well.

This is where the interior of the O line becomes critical. If the C and the Gs execute well, and the FB does his job, a back like Marshawn can make the DEs an almost non factor and run it down their throat until the defense wears down and give up.

The size, the power, the determination, the hair. He reminds me of Eddie Lacy. (Can someone hook me up with a gif of him planting that ND player in that MNC game with a ridiculous stiff-arm?) That is a very good thing. I am getting pretty amped about the potential of our offense. I cannot remember ever saying that about VT. It looks like Loeffler meant it when he said he wanted to establish the power running game.

Thanks. Leg for you. That is exactly what I was thinking of. I don't care what kind of an arm you call it, that is just a grown man planting another grown man into the ground with one arm and without even having to bend over. This play just illustrated that ND didn't even belong on the field.

I didn't even realize that they both wear #42 when I wrote my original post.

Don't forget we will have a healthy Shai next year as well who himself is a very good back! That being said it has been a long time since we have had a good stable of running backs. I believe if we can rotate a running back each offensive series it will wear a defense down because the backs will be so fresh. Marshawn will be a stud.

I don't think Williams will be able to overtake Edmunds, but this is bringing back memories of the enthusiasm we had with RMFW coming in with Evans coming back. Oh yeah, Wilson waiting in the wings...

For a defense having to contend with every type of back you can imagine in the backfield brings nightmares. After Edmunds and Coleman wear you down, Williams comes in and breaks you down, then Mangus, Caleb, or Coleman slide past you before you know what happens.

The only worry I have about Edmunds is his recovery from injury. Can he get back to pre injury production by fall? I could envision Marshawn beating a D down and then unleashing a scat back like Coleman.

I know his nickname is Juice but I can foresee people calling him "Smash" Williams from Friday Night Lights...Andrew Ford is a dead ringer for Matt Saracen, Sam Rogers plays like Tim Riggens and VT Lax girl can be Lyla Garrity